Container



A. J. TANNER Sept. 1, 1936,

CONTAINER Filed 001;. 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A; J. TANNER Sept. 1, 1936.

CONTAINER Filed Oct. 14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENTOR.

A. J. TANNER Sept. 1, 1936.

CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 14, 1932 5epi. 1, 1936. A TANNER 2,052,675

CONTAINER Filed Oct. -14, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 coma Arnold S. Tanner,

North Haven, Conn.

Application October 14, 1932, Serial No. 637,678

6 Claims.

viously patented and accordingly the improved container is composed of two separate blanks, one blank forming an inner member or body of the container. The other blank provides a shell surrounding the side and end walls of the inner member and together said members, form a container having front, back, side walls and bottom walls. The two blanks in the assembling of the container can be united together in such a way that a free movement may be permitted between said members so that said body of the container is movable relatively to said shell whereby said body may be placed and held in one or more selected angular positions.

The objects of the present invention, amongst others, are to provide an efiicient and economical container; to improve the method of manutacture; to simplify. the construction thus facilitating the assembling of the box into a position to operate as a rigid packing and display container; to simplify the operation of arranging the container for display purpose; and lastly the box in its preferred form is designed to eliminate gluing operations, particularly such operations that are required to be effected by hand labor. In attaining the last mentioned object the various means for uniting the two blanks together are integral parts of the blank and in action are self-retentive, viz, in themselves provide retentive means without the use of gluing, stapling or other additional fastening means.

Several embodiments of the present invention will be more fully described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, where'- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved container in the set up or display position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; l

Figure 3 is a sectional View showing a slightly modified form of the improved container;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the improved container illustrated in Figure 1 as in its closed condition;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank 01 which the body or inner member of the container is composed;

Figure 6 is a plan view of-the blank of which the shell or outer member of the improved contrainer is composed;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing another modified form of the improved container;

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken on line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view 10 showing the front end of the container in a closed condition;

Figure 10 is a side elevation showing still another modification.

Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating the nvention as applied to a counter basket dis play device;

Figure 12 is a plan view showing the counter basket in a collapsed condition;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the blank of which the inner member of the basket is formed;

and

Figure 14 is a plan view of the blank of which the shell or outer member of the basket is constructed.

Referring more particularly to Figures 5 and 6 illustrating respectively separate blanks A and B divided by crease or scoring lines a into a number of folding portions. Blank A forms the body or inner member of the container and 36 has the central or connecting portion I having extending from opposite sides portions 2 and 3 of which portion 2 forms the bottom of the container and portion 3 forms a cover. The latter is cut out and creased on line b so as to fold on itself to form a display device. -The portion I forms the inner back wall of the container and is arranged to be secured to the blank 13 and the blank B also has a central portion 6 having extensions 5 from each end there- 40 of. The portion t forms the outer back wall of the container and portions 5 form theside walls. A slot 6 is provided in the portion l of blank A and portion of blank B has tabs i cut out therefrom. Said tabs 5 are arranged to register with and to be engaged in the slot 6 of blank A whereby the two blanks are united together and may be so delivered to the customer.

. The side wall forming portions 5 have in- 5 wardly folding ends 8 oppositely notched at 9 so as to unite the two ends of the blank B together to form a sheil. These ends may howver be united together by gluing or otherwise M if preferred.

The sections 23 of blank A have wings 2' 3 connected thereto .and these wings are foldable so as to be located within the shell or outer 'member 2 and the section} has the extension H) which is foldable on the crease line c to provide a folding over end H whichpreferably carriesa folding strip i2. In assembling or setting up the blanks which have been previously united together, upon making the connection by inserting the tabs 1 in slot 6, the wings 2 carried by blank A are folded into a perpendicular position and then inserted within the shell B which is formed by uniting the two ends 8 together by locking together the notches 9. The end it is then passed over the ends 8 which are preferably reduced so as to provide a partly opened front wall for the container. folded down so as to lie against the inner surface of the ends 8 and in this position the folded strip i2 is engaged under the tab it. The container in this set up position is ready to receive the merchandise, for example cartons it. The cover member 3 is then folded down with the wings 3' inserted behind the side walls 5 and the tongue [5 is inserted in the end of the box so that by means of. the. shell B, cover 3, side wings 3' and the tongue i5 the container is entirely closed on all sides.

In setting up the improved container for display it is only required to open the cover member 3 and fold it forwardly on the line b. At the same time the body portion of the container, formed by the blank A, is lifted within the shell to a point wherein the bottom edge It of the wings'3 lie above the notches i'i formed in the blank B adjacent to the back wall portion 4. The slot and tab connection 6l permits of this sliding or lifting movement and when the body is lifted the cover maybe readily folded so that the tongue I5 can be inserted behind the merchandise. The body A is then slightly dropped so that the edges N5 of the wings 3' are engaged within the slots i'i thereby firmly retaining the display device in an erect position at all times. It will be noted that when in theclosed position the edge iii of the slot 6 is in contact with the tabs 1 and by these means the body is prevented from dropping below the bottom edge of the shell member B.

In the raised position of the body member the bottom I lies in an angular position as indicated by the line a: of Figure 1 and it will be noted when the container body is in this raised position the portion i9 below the line a: operates as a flrm easel or support for the container when in its angular or display position. It should be noted that the top line of the side walls is inclined and this inclination of the side wall tends to expose the the' shell B with an inclined edge both at the top and the bottom and'which inclined bottom edge is obtained by eliminating the portion [9 which lies .below the line a: in. Figure 1. The wings 2' and 3' are tapered and one purpose of these tapered wings is to close the sides of the carton when in' condition for shipping and by these The folding end it is aosaeve formed with only the two blanks A and B' as described.

Referring to Figure 'l, the container shown therein is composed of two blanks A and B as in the previous examples, but one change is that the cover member 3 is eliminated and in lieu thereof a separate sheet 20 provides the display card, if one is required. Another change is in connection with the means for suspending the bottom at the front end. This means as in the other example comprises the double folding end i0ii carried by the blank A. In the present instance the double folding end is folded over the reduced portion of the front wall 8 of the shell or outer member B in such a way that the portion i i overhangs to form an additional dis- In Figure 7 by fulilines the container is shown.

in one position for display and this is the position the box is in when packed for shipping. When sopacked the detachable show card 20 is inserted preferably at one side and within the container therefore a show card of a maximum size without any folds is permissible. To render the package rigid for shipping a sleeve, cover or other enclosing means of a conventional form may beemployed. In Figure '7 another display position of the container is shown by broken lines and the container is brought to this position by simply forcing the bottom 2 of the container upwardly. The show card is secured to the container by means of notches 23 engaging the top edge of the side walls 5 and will be thus retentively held in all adjusted display positions of the container.

The relative sliding or swinging movement between the inner member A and the other member B is permitted by similar means to those heretofore described and which means include the slot 6 and the tabs 1. In the highest display position of the container which is alsolthe position for packing and shipping, the bottom is in its lowermost position which is the limit of the downward movement allowed by the slotandtab connection 6-1.

In the closed and shipping condition of the container the side wings 2'-3' of the blank A cover the sides of the container not covered by the shell B. In setting up the container for display, the bottom 2 in effect swings on the means employed for suspending the front end of the bottom and it should be particularly noted that the bottom may be only partly pushed up into theshell and by this means the container can be adrange of adjustment allowed by-the slot and tab connection 6-..-|. This connection and the close fit between the body A and the sleeve B will create sufllcient friction to retain the container in intermediate angular. positions. With this ad-' Justment an easel or additional back support is not required as with other backwardly tilting boxes of a known type for when the improved box is partly emptied and the weight at the back of the container is beyond the center of gravity, the angular inclination of the container may be readily adjusted so as to getthe proper balance.

In Figure 9 showing the front end of the con- 7 tainer closed, the flap or tongue I! is folded over 60 Justed to stand in any angular position within the the flanges 22 and the overhanging panel or portion ii and the reduced end 24 -of said flap i is 4 inserted into a pocket formed between the portion i0 and the front wall 8. This modification is forming portion 2.

i more applicable to the structure shown in Figflap 3 I folds over the front wall 8 and-is exposed;

as an additional display panel. Further in the present modification the display card 20 is a continuation of the inner back wall forming portion i of blank A. A similar connecting means tabs 7 and slot, 6 are employed so as to permitelevating of the inner member. Folding tabs 25 extend laterally from the sides of the portion I. In the closed position of the container these tabs 25 fold against the side walls of the container and in the open or display position of the container these tabs 25 are folded back so. as to engage the top edge of the back wall 4 of the sleeve 13 and thereby the inner body is firmly held in its raised position. It will be further noted in this modification that wings 2' are wider so as to provide inner or lining walls for the sides of the container.

Referring to Figures 11 to 14 inclusive, therein the invention is shown as applied to an open top container employed as a basket when'resting on a counter or elsewhere and in which basket the merchandise is placed both for display and dispensing purposes. This basket container is similar in many respects to the examples of boxes heretofore referred to in that it is composed of two blanks, A and B of which blank A forms the inner or body member and blank B forms the shell or outer member. These two blanks are united together by the tabs I engaged in the slot 6. As shown in the drawings illustrating this embodiment the slot 6 does not permit of the sliding movement as in the other examples but it is obvious that if it is desired to elevate the bottom of this basket the sliding movement may be permitted and a device such as hereinbefore described may be employed to retain the bottom in the elevated position. In the previous examples the portion of .the blank A which provides the display card is capableof folding on itself when raised and in the closed position provides a cover for the box. In the present example the show card is preferably rigid so that it will of its own accord stand in an erect position above the back wall 40f the shell or outer member 3. The rigid display card 26 is a continuation of the bottom This bottom portion is suspended at the front end' by the double folding portion iii-4i which is folded over so that the notches 2i are engaged at the bottom of the flanges 22 cf the front wall 8. This front wall is composed of the extensions 8 each having a cut away or reduced portion 21 when united forming the recess 28 to receive the folded over end flap i I. The bottom 2 in the set up or operative position of the basket is suspended, as stated, from the front end by the double folding portion ill--I i and at the rear end by the tab and slot device 6-4. This bottom is slightly raised so that the basket will rest on the bottom edges 29 of the shell member and to reinforce or strengthen the bottom the folding side flaps may be provided.

In the closed or collapsed position of the device the flap II is folded against portion Iii. These two portions are then folded against the bottom 2 which in turn is folded against the display card.

I Then either one of the side walls is folded over the folded bottom and subsequently the front wall and the remaining side wall 5 together are folded over so that the entire device will be in the position as shown in Figure 12. It will be understood that the ends of the blank B may be united together in any suitable way to form the shell member but preferably to avoid the use of glue a suitable interlocking device is employed consisting of the slots 3| engaging the tabs 32. This means of securing is positive and will effectually prevent the spreading apart of the side walls of the basket.

Various other modifications may be made in carrying out the details of the invention hereinbefore described and it is to be understood that any modification coming fairly within the terms of the appended claims shall be covered thereby.

I claim:

1. A packing and display box comprising an inner or body member composed of one sheet and an outer membercomposed of a separate independently of said shell, and the means for connecting said body limiting both the upward and downward movement of said body at all times.

2. A packing and display box comprising an inner or body member composed of one sheet and an outer member composed of another sheet having its ends united to form a shell, said body member being hung at the front end by means of a free end thereof folding over the front wall of said shell, said body being connected to the back wall of said shell by a sliding connection so as to permit raising and lowering of said body independently of said shell, and the means for connecting said body comprising a tab engaged and sliding within an elongated vertical slot limiting the movement of said body.

3. A display box comprising a body connected to and located within an outer shell, said body being connected at the front end to said shell to swing vertically from the front wall of said shell, a sliding connection means uniting the back walls of said shell and body whereby the swinging movement is limited, and said connection means comprising tabs on said shell engaged in a vertical slot provided in the rear wall of said body.

4. A packing and display box of the class described comprising an inner body member and an outer shell member, said body member being slidably connected to said shell member so as to permit of an independent limited movement of I secured to the back wall of said shell member,

said body member having a double folding flap I said suspension means are disconnected whereby the container is permitted to collapse into a fiat position without separation of said members.

' 6. A packing and display box comprising an inner or body member composed ot'one sheet and an outer member composed of a separate acme-rs sheet, the latter having its ends united to form a shell, said body member being detachablyhung at the front end by the means of'a free end thereto folding over a cut out portion of the front wall of said shell and said body being connected at the rear end to the back wall of said shell by means of a tab cut from the back wall of said shell engaged in a slot formed in the back wall of said body member whereby said members are detachably united together.

- I ARNOLD J. TANNER. 

